The Sacred and the Troth (The Sacrifice is the Promise) 

I want to be your sledgehammer, Why don't you call my name
Oh let me be your sledgehammer, This will be my testimony
Show me round your fruit cage, cos I will be your honey bee
Open up your fruit cage, Where the fruit is as sweet as can be

"Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel

Certainly there are levels of sacrifice: missing the game and staying home with the kids. Short-term vs. long-term vs. forever…. Self-sacrifice? Saving that senior citizen in the cross walk from a reckless driver and getting walloped in the process. A third sacrifice requires a radical, long-term behavior change that germinates in your house and is fueled by compassion and courage for the Planet as a Living Force. In my gut, sacrifice and sacred and promise are intertwined. From Wikipedia, two paraphrased definitions:

Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred", from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred" + facere, "to make") is commonly known as the practice of offering valuables in worship. And a promise (also called troth) is a psychological contract indicating a transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his or her use. A promise may also refer to any kind of vow or guarantee.

Vow is such a paradoxical effort. Wedding vows are worth less and less these days, especially in the USA. Guarantees are a bunch of papers that come in the refrigerator box. Just try and return that failed gadget at Circuit City this year.

What is the Green Movement promising you these days?

• Selling pollution credits? Nice. Where does the pollution go when you "trade" the stuff?
• Long-term economic stability? Hedge.
• Toxic free food? But can you afford whole foods?
• Jobs for battered inner city youth?
• More ice up on top of the world?
• More scary movies from the end of the world studios? Saw 7.

Become a spiritual world. Make more promises! Join The Green Crusades?!

Think it's time to sacrifice our personal stakes on personal ownership for a better place for our children: share the land; re-use the plastic sour cream container; re-charge the re-chargeable batteries. A resolution for 2009, Joe? There is no sacrifice when to continue the status quo is world suicide. Are these organizations living up to their promises: Peace Corp., The United Nations; Doctors Without Borders?

Perhaps closer to home is a better place to jump start that "sacred troth magnet" in your closet:

• Donate your car and buy a used bike
• Buy 50% of your clothes from your local recycled clothing charity
• Join in a community food buying network
• Serve on your neighborhood council
• Organize a block party
• Enjoy one meal per week with a senior citizen near you
• Watch TV 90% less. Walk around the block 5 times.
• Grow a garden in your front yard. And on your roof.

The Green World will be built on your promises. Be the honey bee.

William Paul is a proactive business development partner and innovator for his clients and community – integrating full life cycle impact analysis, green values and sustainable outcomes through Green/sustainable services and civic participation. Find out more about William at Sustainable Business Strategies

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